Camera



June 9, 1936. w, HARRlSON ET AL 2,043,539

CAMERA Filed Nov. 27, 1934 swim/111111111101 S ATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Los Angeles,

Calif.

Application November 2'1, 1934, Serial No. 754,990

12 Claims.

Our invention relates broadly to cameras and particularly to that type of camera adapted for making photographic records direct on positive paper, although as will become apparent, the ap paratus herein described is not limited to that use, but is suitable for any photographic work.

Such a camera is exceptionally valuable in identification work where it becomes necessary to produce a great number of photographs at a low cost and as rapidly as possible, such for example as are used in criminal identification, passports and the like, and if satisfactory results can be obtained without the necessity of first making a negative and then printing to a positive film, an obvious saving in time and money is effected.

It is therefore a major object of our invention to provide a camera suitable for making individual photographs direct on positive paper which is simple and durable, and at the same time highly efficient. Heretofore direct positive records havebeen made with cameras provided with a prism or mirror placed in front of the lens in order'to correct for the left to right reversal of the image. However, this system is objectionable for the reason that the camera must be operated in an awkward and non-directional manner. In the present invention this correction is accomplished simply and effectively by inverting the image top for bottom behind the lens by the use of an angular mirror, which allows the camera to be operated directionally, and also allows the use of a directional finder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for daylight unloading of individual photographic records without any danger of fogging the unexposed film in the camera, and without the necessity of removing the entire reel of film. As will be apparent, this feature of our camera is a decided advancement in the art and one that has application to many types of cameras.

A further object is to provide a simple method of identifying each photograph asit is removed from the camera and a novel type of light-tight container for holding the film removed.

In this type of camera, where the individual records are to be removed after exposure, it is essential that a feed mechanism be supplied that will give positive motion to the film without damaging it. This we have accomplished by the novel combination of feed roller and pressure roller hereinafter described, which eliminates the necessity of a pulling or take-up means in the film receiving container;

In photographing living objects, particularly where the object is not overly anxious to be photographed, considerable difficulty is experienced in focusing and maintaining a good focus by the usual type of finder. It is therefore an additional object of our invention to provide a 5 directional finder that eliminates this difliculty. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of our invention and from the drawing accompanying the same, in which: 10

Fig. I is a side elevation of the camera partly cut away and partly in section.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the camera facing the other way.

F18. In is a vertical Fix. I.

Fig. IV is a vertical Fig. I.

Fig. V is a perspective of the film container with a portion broken away.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. I and II, the numeral l0 designates a closed box or casing which is made of any suitable-material and is provided with a removable sidewall or cover ll. Mounted within the casing l0, and preferably in the upper portion thereof, is a spindle l2, upon which a roll of light sensitive film i3 is mounted for rotation with the spindle ii. In the rear wall of the casing I0 and near the base thereof, an eyepiece I4 is provided to serve as a finder, and in the opposite or front wall of the casing iii, a suitable lens I! is located, its directional axis coinciding with that of the eyepiece l4. Substantially midway between the eyepiece I4 and the lens IS, a ground glass I6 is mounted in an upstanding position. Adjacent the ground glass It and between it and the lens I5 is a movable mirror I! pivoted on a horizontal pin I! mounted between the two sidewalls of the casing l0. Fast to one. end of pin i8 is an arm I! on the outside of the sidewall of casing in which is adapted to be moved manually to rotate the mirror I! about the axis of the pin I B from the full line position shown in Fig. I, where it intercepts the light rays passing through the lens l5 and deflects them from their horizontal path into a vertical path, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. I. in which position it allows free passage of the light rays from lens ii to ground glass It and thence to eyepiece I4.

Rotatably mounted on a horizontal pin 45 extending between the sidewalls of the casing II and spaced near the front wall thereof above the lens II is a feed roller 20 provided with raised section taken at H in 15 section taken at H in peripheral bands 2| and 22 of resilient material v such as rubber, or the like. These bands 2| and 22 are preferably spaced apart so that they will grip the edges of the film as it passes over the feed roller 28, and in the preferred form of our invention, as illustrated, they are fastened at each end of the feed roller 20, so as not to contact the area of film to be exposed. The pin 45 to which the feed roller 28 is fastened, extends through one sidewall of casing I and has a crank 23 fastened to that end thereof, and on the outside of one sidewall of the casing |8 so that the roller 28 can be readily rotated to advance the film.

Spaced immediately below feed roller 28 are two oppositely positioned eccentric pins 24 and 25 set in the sidewalls of casing l8 and extending inwardly therefrom to provide a pair of stub shafts. A cylindrical roller 26 is cored to contain a coil spring 21 which extends through the roller 28 and projects beyond each end thereof. The spring 21 is lined up between the stub shafts 24 and 25 so that they may be inserted in the projecting ends of the spring 21 which thus acts as an axle or rotation shaft for roller 26; The two rollers 20 and 26 are positioned so that roller 28 is in pressure contact with the resilient bands 2| and 22 on roller 20, and by reason of the spring mounting 21, a floating pressure is exerted by roller 26 on roller 28 to insure a constant gripping factor between them irrespective of any minor non-concentricity of the bands 2| and 22. The eccentricity of the pins 24 and 25 upon which the pressure roller 26 is mounted, allow the latter to be raised or lowered at will to provide any desired degree of pressure between it and the feed roller 28.

In threading up the camera the free end of the film |3 is led over the feed roller 28, around and between it and the pressure roller 26, thus being gripped firmly between the latter and the resilient bands 2| and 22 on the feed roller 28. From this point the film is pushed across a horizontal aperture plate 41 having an aperture 28 therein for permitting exposure of the film; lens l5, mirror l1 and aperture 28 being so spaced relative to each other that when mirror I1 is in its lowermost position, the image formed by the lens I is reflected up through the aperture 28 onto the film I3, to expose the same. A horizontal guide plate 29 is spaced immediately above aperture plate 41 to facilitate the travel of the film and keep it from buckling as it is pushed across the aperture 28. The exit end of the passage formed by the aperture plate 41 and guide plate 28 is provided with lips 38 and 3|, of resilient material such as felt, sponge rubber or the like which effectually close the film passage against light, but give sufficiently to receive the film and allow it to be pushed between and through them into an enlarged passage 33 adapted to hold a film container 32. This latter passage 33 is formed as an elongated recess having an opening or slit in the rear wall of easing l8 and upper and lower parallel plates 34 and 35, the horizontal axis of the passage 33 being coaxial with that of the passage between the guide plate 29 and aperture plate 41.

The passage 33 is provided with a removable film container 32 formed as a flat rectangular boxlike holder open at the inner end. The base of the container 32 projects out beyond the sides and top to provide a shelf-like lip 36 adapted to support the end of the film when the container has been removed from the camera, thus facilitating the marking or identifying of the film. Adjacent the open end of the container 32 are a pair ofresilient lips 31 and 38 made of felt or similar material, in contact to effect a light tight opening for the container, but sufficiently resilient and so spaced that they will receive the film as it is pushed into and through them into the interior of the container 32.

Mounted within the casing at the junction between aperture plate 41 and parallel plate 35 is a cored block 39 provided with a vertical slit 48 running the major part of its length. Slidably mounted within the block 39 is a rod 4| having an upstanding knife blade 42 which projects up through the slit 40 and into the passage 33 across the film path. As will be seen in Fig. 4, the rod 4| extends through alight tight opening in the sidewall of the casing l0 and can be grasped at its extending end to be moved longitudinally of the barrel and slit of block 39. The normal position of rod 4| is with the knife blade 42 in its innermost position to the extreme right in Fig. IV as shown by the dotted lines. In this position it is out of contact with the film l3.

In operating the camera, the roll of film |3 is mounted in the casing II) on spindle l2 and the free end of the film is led over feed roller 28, between roller 28 and pressure roller 26 and across aperture plate 41 as previously described. In this position, the film is ready for exposure, the free end being located at the lips 30 and 3|, and an empty container 32- being in place within the passage 33 to receive the film after exposure. The mirror I1 is swung to its upper position by moving handle l9 and the camera is focused on the object to be photographed. With the mirror in this upper position, the image is focused on the ground glass it and viewed therethrough the eyepiece M which is provided with a red filter to prevent fogging of the film. It will be noted that when the mirror I1 is in its upper or inoperative position that it makes a light-tight shield across the film to prevent fogging from the lens. With this type of finder it will be evident that focusing becomes very simple, particularly for objects inclined to vary their distance from the ens.

When the camera is properly focused, the lever |9 is quickly depressed, throwing the mirror |1 down to its lower position where it will deflect the image onto the film through aperture 28. When the required time for the exposure has elapsed, the mirror is once again raised to prevent further exposure of the film. The handle 23 on feed roller 20 is then turned to rotate the feed roller 28 to push the film, which is gripped between the feed roller 28 and pressure roller 26, through lips 30 and 3| into passage 33, through lips 31 and 38 and into the container 32. When the exposed portion of the film has been entirely fed into the container 32, rotation of the roller is stopped and the rod 4| is pulled outwardly in the barrel of block 39. This motion of the rod 4| causes the knife 42 to travel along the slit 48 across the path of the film H! and to sever the film transversely at that point, thus separating the exposed record from the balance of the film which is unexposed.

The container 32 may then be removed by pulling it out of the recess 23 and the lips 31 and 38 will effectually seal the container so that no light can reach the exposed but undeveloped record. Due to the fact that lips 38 and 3| also form a light tight connection, no fogging of the unexposed film is possible. The rod 4| is then pushed back into normal position, a new container inserted into the recess 33 and the camera is ready for another exposure.

The exposed record can then be developed and subjected to any of the well-known reversal processes to produce a final positive record of the subject photographed. By this construction it will be seen that the economy of using a film roll of considerablelength is possible while still securing individual photographs as exposed without the necessity of waiting until the entire roll is exposed.

While in the preferred form shown we have dispensed with a shutter on the lens as unnecessary, it will be obvious that a shutter may be added if it is desired to use the camera for snapshots. With a shutter on the lens IS, the mirror I! could be made stationary if a separate finder were used as for example by moving it over out of line with the lens and providing a second aperture or lens in connection with the eyepiece. Also the mirror can be entirely dispensed with if correction is not required. Furthermore, while we favor a container that is insertable in the camera itself, it will be obvious that the container 32 may be made to fasten on the outside of the camera so long as a light-tight connection is established.

These and other modifications in the arrangement of parts and the substitution of equivalent parts for those shown and described can be made without'in any way going outside the proper scope of our invention. It is to be understood that according to the' law made and provided with respect to patents, we have shown one preferred form of our invention, which is to be taken as illustrative only, and not as limiting the proper scope of our invention as defined by the appended claims. y

We claim as our invention:-

1. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; feed means for advancing said record past the point of exposure; a removable container with resilient lips for receiving said record; means for severing said record from said film strip; and sealing means for preventing exposure of said film strip when said container is removed from said camera.

2. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; feed means for advancing said record past the point of exposure; a removable container for receiving said record; cutting means for severing said record from said film strip; and resilient sealing means within said camera for preventing exposure of said film strip when said container is removed from said camera.

3. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; feed means for advancing said record past the point of exposure; a removable container with light tight resilient lips for receiving said record; a transversely movable blade for severing said record from said film strip; and sealing means comprising resilient lips for preventing exposure of said film strip when said container is removed from said camera.

4. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; and means for advancing said film strip comprising a rotatable feed roller in cooperative relationship with a pressure roller mounted on an axial spring and adapted to rotate in contact with said feed roller.

5. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: 5 means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; and means for advancing said film strip comprising a cylindrical feed roller having a plurality of resilient bands therearound, and a pressure roller mounted on an 10 axial :spring and'adapted to rotate in contact with said bands.

6. A camera for making individual photographic records on a filmcstrip which includes: means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce ,1; a photographic record; means for advancing said film strip beyond the point of exposure comprising a cylindrical feed roller having a plurality of resilient bands therearound and a pressure roller adapted to rotate in contact with said bands; movable cutting means for severing said record from said film strip said means being located beyond the point of exposure along the line of travel of said film strip; and means for removing said severed record from said camera without ex- 25 posing it to light.

'7. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; means for advancing said 8 film strip; means for severing said record from said film strip; and a container comprising a relatively fiat walled receptacle with resilient lips at one end thereof for receiving said record.

8. A camera for making individual photographic 35 records on a film strip which includes: means for exposing a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; means for advancing said film strip; means for severing said record from said film strip; and a container comprising a 40 light tight receptacle having a protruding lip portion at the entrance end thereof adapted to support a film strip.

9. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip whichincludes: a 45 lens; an angularly positioned mirror behind said lens and adapted to refiect light rays from said lens on to a portion of said film strip to produce a photographic record; means for advancing said film strip past the point of exposure; a removable 60 light tight container for receiving said record; means for severing said record from said film strip; and means within said camera for preventing exposure of said film strip upon removal of said container. 55

10. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: a vertically positioned lens; an angularly positioned mirror behind said lens and coaxial therewith adapted to refiect light rays from said lens in 60 a vertical direction; a horizontal aperture plate in the path of said reflected rays; means for advancing a film strip across said aperture plate after exposure of apportion thereof; a removable light tight container for receiving said exposed 65 portion of film; and means within said camera for preventing exposure of said film strip upon removal of said container.

11. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: a lens; an angularly positioned mirror behind said lens and adapted to reflect light rays from said lens on to a portion at said film strip to produce a photographic record; means for advancing said film strip past the point of exposure;

upper and lower substantially horizontal partition walls forming a receptacle for a removable container adapted to receive said record; and movable cutting means disposed adjacent the path of travel 01' said film strip and between the point oi. exposure thereof and the inner end of said container when the same is inserted in said receptacle.

12. A camera for making individual photographic records on a film strip which includes: a walled casing provided with means for mounting a reel of film in its upper portion; a lens in the lower portion of the front wall of said casing; a horizontal aperture plate provided with an aperture and disposed above and to the rear of said WILLIAM H. HARRISON. EDWARD C. HARRISON. 

